Feed carriage assembly for lathes



2l, 1945. R. G. L E TOURNEAU 2,383,266 FEED CARRIAGE AssEMBLY-FQR LATHESFiled' Nov. 24, 1.941 V 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR j?. Gf LeYuzneaw TTYSAug.21,1945. R. G. LE' TURNEAU- y 2,383,266

` FEED CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY FOR LATHES Filed my.Y 24, 1941 s sheets-sheet 2INVENTOR R. GIL? Yurneau.

Aug. 21,r 1945. Y R. G. TOURNEAU 2,333,266

' FEED CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY FOR LATHES y 36 Flm l Y .l

= IN R'GLegUI-neau,

Patented Aug'. 21,4 1945 I UNl'TEDsTATEs PAT ""aasazssf,

ENT OFFICE e rEEnoAnniAGE ASSEMBLY FoitILA'rHEs` f Robert Gilmore LeTourneau, Peoria, Ill., assgnor `toLR.Gr. Le Tourneau, Inc., acorporationol? I I California Application November 24, 1941, serial No.420,244

I `(o1. sz-i4) 6 Claims.

" `This invention relatesfgenerallylto improvementsin engine lathes, andinparticular is directed toa uniquefeed carriage assembly.

The principal object `of the invention is to pro# -videa feed carriage`assembly which includes dual cross slides arranged forsimult'aneousoperation whereby separate and different cuts maybe taken the machiningof work requiring multiple cuts and reducing the time .of suchoperations. `Another object of` the invention is `to provide,

`in an engine lathe, a longitudinally fed carriage I assembly includinga; tool,I supporting cross slide which automatically `fed relative` to`the work forangle cuts or the like; this automatic feeding beingaccomplished `through means including a novel cam mechanism.` I

A further object of the inventionlis tofprovide a longitudinally `fed,carriage assembly which supports multiple tools `and is especiallydesigned for useto eirect diierent` and multiplewcuts in the machiningof projectile cases without removing the `latter from the lathe chuck,two `of `such cuts being accomplished simultaneouslmwhile a I third cutis` taken.; subsequently and` after automatic cessation of" onefoftheother cuts.`

A further object, of 'fthe Vinvention is td` produce a simple and'inexpensivejdevice and yet one which will `be ,Wxceedinglyfeffective forthe purpose for which it is designed.

These objects Laccomplsh by means f S11-0h structure andrelativearrangement of parts as specification and claims. l I

In the `drawings similar" characters of referencefindioate"corresponding parts Vin the several views:`

Figure 1 islafplan viewyo'f Athe lathe showin the carriage in startingposition. I

Figure 2 is a plan lvi'ew'jof `thelathe showing the position `of the"`carriageI after'partial comwill `fully Vappear aperusal `of" thefollowing pletion of two lof the cuts; 'oneof saidlcuts being an"anglecut for which the corresponding tool is automaticallylre'gulatemas will/hereinafter appear. I` II Figure 3 is an -enlarged endview ofthe car riage `assembly showing thevertical turret as mounted on one ofthe cross slides.

Figure 4 is an enlarged `fragmentary, top plan partially in section of Ithe vertical turret.

I Figure 5 isI an enlarged cross section of the carriage assemblytakenon line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference onthedrawings, vthe numeral I indicates the headstock of the lathe fittedwith `on the work `at the `same time, thus` simplifying I I tion of`said carriage adjacent gearbox Il. cross slide I2 is connected with thecarriage 5 by a `driven chuck! which may either be of conventionalconstruction` oryIa `special adaptation, as may benecessary forspecializedwork. I In the presentwinstance the chuck is designed to grip`one end of a projectile case 3 which is unsupported at the other endandasubstantial portion of which is exposed for machining.

A lathe bed 4 is onset laterally relative to the chuck and extendslongitudinally ofIthe machine, such bed being of heavy-duty constructionand suitably mounted and supported.

A substantially rectangular carriage 5I is mounted onthe bed 41formovement lengthwise of Ithe'latter; the bed including longitudinaltongues 6 and I which I ride in corresponding p grooves at the bottom.of the carriage, and there being longitudinal ilarige.` members 8 whichen-l gage beneath said tongues,` preventing relative separating movementof` thecvarriage from the f I means of dovetail ways I3. Opposed socketsI4 and I5 "of substantialY depth are `formedin and are open to oppositeends of the cross slide I'2, such `sockets being disposed in end to endalinement. The socket I 4,Iwhich is the innermost one, i. e., adjacentthe work, is tted Witha ,re1a tively slidable iixe'd sleeve I6 which isclosed `at its outer end, there beinga compression spring I1 seated insaid socket and extending from the bottomv of `the latter to the closedend of L the sleeve; the adjacent outer end portion of saidl I sleeveprojecting some distance beyond the 'corresponding end of crosstslideI2.

abuts a stop `plate I8 secured onvand upstandfrom the work;

` projects to a termination some distance lbe-` yond the initially openend of said socket."A

ing from the inner side of carriage` 5. I The compressionsp'ring Il isalways under compression. II

thus-urging thecross slide I2 in` a direction `away A pin I9 is`disposed, axiallyin socket I5 and compression spring 20 surrounds suchpin within socket I between a head 2| on the inner end of the pin and abushing 22 in the socket at said open end. An adjustment collar 23 isthreaded on the projecting portion of pin I3 and seats against theadjacent end of the cross slide.

A tool holding head 24 is mounted atop the cross slide I2 at the endadjacent the work and this head includes 'a socket 25 adapted for theadjustable reception of the tool 26.

riage 5, whereby to prevent rotation of said block relative to shaft 21.Sliding movement of `cam block 28 along shaft 21 is limited by means ofad` justable stop collars 29; such stop collars being adjusted so as topermit of predetermined travel of the cam block and to assure that saidcam block does not escapey the carriage 5. The inner edge of cam block28 is formed with a cam surface 30, the' configuration of whichcorresponds to the cut desired to bemade by tool 26 on the work andwhich' cutin the pres'- ent instance--is ataper'cuton the outer orexposed end portion of the chuck supported projectile case 3. The outerend of pin I 9 is rounded and normally engages the inner edge of camblock 28 which includes the cam surface 30.

Another cross slide 3| is mounted on `the carriage 5 in the same manneras cross slide I2. n

However, cross slide V3| does not have an automatic or Cam feed and itsadjustment to and from, the work is accomplished by manually operatedmeans which includes an adjustable stop 32 between the outer end of saidslide and a cross bar 32a xed on the adjacent portion'of carriage 5. Thebar 32a also extends across the path of movement of slide I2 toward thecam, to limit the movement of the same when the meinber I9 leaves theforward endof the cam.

The cross slide 3| carries what may be termed a vertical turret, whichlcomprises the following parts: A cylindrical head or tool'holder 33 isdisposed above the cross slide'SI adjacent its inner end and one sidethereof, said tool holder Ibeing disposed with its axis horizontal andparallel to the axis of the headstock. Av rigid spindle 34 projects fromone face of the tool holder into an upstanding housing 35 on cross slide`3|, this spindle being secured in the housing vvby antifrictionbearings 36. Parallel tool-receiving slots 31 arecut into the toolholder from the periphery When in'horizontal lposition theY handle 4| isreleas` locked to said post by another spring-pressed detent 44.

Operation The above-described lathe mechanism functions in the followingmanner:

At the outset the carriage assembly is in the position shown in Fig. 1;the projectile case to be machined having previously been secured .incentered and supported relation in the chuck 2. The gearing in box 9 isthen 'placed in operation,

causing the carriage 5 to slowly advance toward the work. The handle 4|is normally in lowered or horizonta1 position and the tool 39 firstengages the work at a lpoint 45, and, with continued advance of thecarriage, machines the central and constant-diameter` portion 46 of thebody of the shell casing'3. lAs the carriage so advances the tool 26comes into engagement with the projectile case 3 at its outer end. Thecam block 28, which is carried forward on shaft 21 by friction-alengagement, reaches the limit of its travel just ahead kof the time thattool 26 first engages the work. Thereupon, with continued movement ofthe carriage' in, the direction "of the vheadstock the rounded .end ofthe pin I9 rides along they cam surface 30, whchin the present instanceis a straight taper, resulting in .theislide I2 backing away from thework by the action of spring I1, and the tool 26 machining thecorresponding straight taper 41,011 the outer end portion of theprojectile case 3 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

When the tool 26 reaches .an` advanced point, which is the end of thetaper, thegpin I9 escapes cam surface 30 and the action of compressionspring I1 withdraws the tool 26v from the work.

At substantially the same time the tool 39 has completed the constant`diarnetervcut on the central portion of the case 3, whereupontheoperator releases handle 4| and swings it upwardto` the,positionfshown in dotted lines inFig. 3. This withdraws tool 39 fro'mthe work and brings tool 38 ninto engagement K with vthe work, thislatter tool .beingv set to cut to Aalarger diameter; the

tool 3,8-as the carriager continues to ladvanceturning the bourrelet 48on the case 3 and adjarcent chuck 2. j

With this cycle, of operations complete the lead screw I0 is reversedandthe carriage backs up to starting position.v As the carriage backs upthe pin |9 reengages cam block 28 and rides up cam surface 30 ontothe4straight portion of said block, frictionallyfcarrying the latter backto starting position adjacent `the stopV collar 29 disposed nearest thegear box 3. Thereafter the cycle of operations Iis repeated on the nextprojectile case. y i y i v l From the foregoing description it will bereadily seen that I have produced such a device as substantiallyVfulfills the' objectsy of the invention as set forth herein. i n' `Whilethis'specification sets forth in detail the present and.` preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may befresorted to'l as do not form a departure from the spiritof 'the' invention, as defined by the appended claims. .Y Y

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesireto secure by Letters Patent is: Y v. l 1 1. In a lathewhichincludes a bed and a power `fed longitudinally movable carriagemounted thereon; a cross slide' mounted on the carriage, a tool carriedby the cross slide, a horizontal shaft mounted in fixed connection withthe bed and disposed adjacentl but outwardly of the cross slide parallelto .the :directionof movement .of the carriage, a cam member fslidablymounted on said shaft, means on the shaft to limit movement of said cammember through a predetermined path,

said member having a cam face of predetermined l pattern facing thecrossslide, and an element mounted on said cross slide and normally enlgaging said cam -facein frictional but sliding relation. i l r e 2. Adevice as in claiml` in which the shaft intermediate its ends overhangs"the carriage; the `cam member being` a block having a bottom `surface`frictionally engaging the upper surface of the carriage in relativelyslidable relation whereby to preventrotation of said member about theshaft. e l l 3. A device as in claim 1 in which said limiting meanscomprises stop collars mounted on the shaft` at spaced points andlbetween which the v 4. In a lathe which includes a bed and a power fedlongitudinally vmovable carriage; a pair of cross slides mounted on saidcarriage in side by side relation, a tool mounted on one cross slide,

a vertical turret mounted on the other cross slide, a pair of` toolsmounted onsaid turret `for alter- Vnate movement to- Work engagingposition, and

means connected between the bed and said one cross slide 'toautomatically feed the latter so that its tool defines a predeterminedpattern with advancing movement of the carriage through a certain path,one of the tools of said pair being adapted to be in work engagingposition throughout said path of movement of the carriage, and

the other tool of said pair being adapted to be `moved into workengaging position as the tool of said one cross slide reaches the end ofsaid pattern and upon continued advance of the `carriage beyond saidpredetermined path. l

5. A device asin claim 4 in whichsaid one cross slide is automaticallyretracted so as to withdraw its'tool from the work as said tool reachesthe end of said pattern.

. 6. In a lathewhich includes a bed and a power fed `longitudinallymovable carriage mounted thereon; a cross slidelmountedon the carriage,l

and a vertical turret mounted on the cross slide;

said turret` comprising a head mounted for row `tation about ahorizontal axis parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage,multiple tools mounted on said head and projecting therefrom forselective e disposition in work engaging position, means 'to effectrotation of said head, l

and means to lock the head `against rotation e when any one of the toolsis in working position;

said rst named means cmprising a substantially radial handle leverprojecting from the head, an upstanding post on the cross slide andagainst which post said handle abuts, and spring-pressed detentsarranged tolock the h'andleto the post different positions with workengaging position.

` `ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

`different tools in

